The 1977 Dean Z Electric Guitar is a Dean electric guitar. Close alternatives include the Gibson Explorer Electric Guitar and the Gibson Sg Custom 1961. It pairs well with the Fender Prosonic and the Orange Matamp.
1977 Dean Z Electric Guitar
Dean · electric guitar
Randy Rhoads was seen playing a Dean Z, likely from the model's debut production year of 1977, during his time before joining Ozzy Osbourne, though detailed documentation of this specific guitar and its eventual fate is largely speculative rather than firmly established. The Dean Z's body shape closely mirrors Gibson's Explorer, with a distinctive V-shaped tailpiece and strings running through the body, giving it a similarly aggressive, angular look that suited the hard rock and early metal scene Rhoads was emerging from. Unlike his more famous later Karl Sandoval-built polka dot Flying V and his Jackson-designed Concorde model, this Dean Z represents an earlier, less-documented chapter of his gear history.
- hard rock
- driven
- metal
- production
- bright
- dean z
- hard rock playing
Genres the 1977 Dean Z Electric Guitar is commonly used in
- Blues
- Metal
- Hard Rock
- Rock
- Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Christian Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the 1977 Dean Z Electric Guitar
Fender Prosonic
amplifier
23% matchFender Prosonic's warm balances out the bright tone
Orange Matamp
Orange
22% matchWhere this leans bright, Orange Matamp answers back smooth
Revv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head
Revv
20% matchWhere this leans bright, Revv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head answers back smooth
Dumble Steel String Singer
Dumble
tonal matchRun Dumble Steel String Singer after it and the bright edge settles into something more smooth
Gibson GA-50
Gibson
tonal matchWhere this leans bright, Gibson GA-50 answers back warm
Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp
Orange
tonal matchOrange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Orange Terror Bass
Orange
tonal matchOrange Terror Bass leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Orange Little Bass Thing
Orange
tonal matchRun Orange Little Bass Thing after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Pedals that stack with the 1977 Dean Z Electric Guitar
One Control Lingonberry Overdrive
One Control
15% matchWhere this leans bright, One Control Lingonberry Overdrive answers back warm
One Control Strawberry Red Overdrive
One Control
14% matchWhere this leans bright, One Control Strawberry Red Overdrive answers back smooth
Orange - Vintage Distortion
Orange
tonal matchWhere this leans bright, Orange - Vintage Distortion answers back warm
SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive
Solidgoldfx
tonal matchSolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it
Behringer Chorus Symphony
Behringer
tonal matchWhere this leans bright, Behringer Chorus Symphony answers back smooth
Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo
Dunlop
tonal matchRun Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Pigtronix gamma drive
Pigtronix
tonal matchPigtronix gamma drive leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Dunlop Echoplex Preamp
Dunlop
tonal matchDunlop Echoplex Preamp leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Gibson Explorer Electric Guitar
Gibson
70% similarity“The Dean Z's body shape closely mirrors Gibson's Explorer, with a distinctive V-shaped tailpiece and strings running through the body”
Gibson Sg Custom 1961
Gibson
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Jackson Flying V Randy Rhoads
Jackson
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson Sg Custom 1960s
Gibson
91% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the 1977 Dean Z Electric Guitar (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the 1977 Dean Z Electric Guitar?+
The closest matches in character are the Gibson Explorer Electric Guitar, the Gibson Sg Custom 1961, the Jackson Flying V Randy Rhoads.
What pairs well with the 1977 Dean Z Electric Guitar?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Fender Prosonic, Orange Matamp, Revv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head — Fender Prosonic's warm balances out the bright tone.